A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume II, Part 90

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1234

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Shorty after he had attained his majority W. C. Littlepage took up one hundred and sixty acres of government land near the tract secured by his father, and all through the years that have since intervened he has given his attention to the bringing of the land under cultivation, the making of necessary improve- ments, the building of needed structures, and the general development of his homestead. Besides he has rented other tracts and has al- most two hundred acres in grain. As might be supposed, farm work takes the precedence of other activities, yet he never neglects any duty that falls to a public-spirited citizen and at present he fills the office of clerk of the school board in his district. Politically he has been a stanch supporter of the Demo- cratic party ever since casting his first ballot in favor of its principles. A few years after he came to San Diego county, in 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Etta Deming, a native of Michigan, but from childhood a resident of California. Four children were born of their union, namely : Fannie May, who married Martin Curlee and makes her home in Pomona; Edgar G., who is married and lives in Poway: Edith F., who is married to E. F. Cravath and lives in Ballena, this coun- ty ; and Albert E., who is married and resides in San Diego, where he holds a position as foreman in the Kelley stables. Throughout Ballena district the Littlepage family has been known for many years and its members have the confidence and esteem of those who have shared with them the agricultural, moral and educational upbuilding of this section.

JOHN B. SNODDY. One of the success- ful farmers of Los Angeles county is John B. Snoddy, who is located two miles northeast of El Monte and engaged in the cultivation of a. walnut ranch of fifty acres. His father, Will- iam Snoddy, represented elsewhere in this work. is one of the early pioneers of California, a man of worth and works, successful in his personal

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affairs and an enterprising and prominent man among the citizens of this community. John B. Snoddy was born on his father's ranch in El Monte November 1, 1874, the oldest child in the family, and all of his boyhood days were passed in that place. He received his education in the public schools and at the same time was trained to the practical duties of a farmer's son. After leaving the public school of Savannah he attended Woodbury's Business College of Los Angeles, from which institution he was grad- uated in 1894. Returning home he remained on his father's ranch until attaining his majority, when he became dependent upon his own re- sources, his first business venture being as pro- prietor of a feed and sale stable in Pasadena. He was successful in his enterprise, but after three years was burned out. The greater part of his capital being lost he then engaged in farming, and in 1898 purchased the G. W. Tun- gate walnut ranch at El Monte, adjoining his father's property. The trees had just begun bearing and since that time have proved a profit- able investment, each year bringing him large returns for his efforts. In 1906 he improved his property by the erection of a handsone resi- dence, and has otherwise added to its value, bringing to bear in his work an intelligent in- terest and capability which have justly placed him among the enterprising and successful men of this section. This ranch receives irrigation from the Tungate and Snoddy ditch, which his father took out in 1870.

.In Pasadena Mr. Snoddy was united in mar- riage with Miss Anna C. French, who was born in Missouri and reared in California from the age of twelve years, her parents being early pioneers of the state. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and active in its work. They have one son, Emory. Mr. Snoddy belongs to the Woodmen of the World of Pasa- dena and the Ancient Order of United Work- men of El Monte, both himself and wife having the Degree of Honor in the latter, while his wife is chief of honor. Politically Mr. Snoddy is a stanch Democrat.

BERNARD SCHMITZ. William Schmitz, one of the representative men of Ventura county, and the father of Bernard Schmitz, of this review, accompanied his parents to the new world in 1860, having been born in Prussia, April 16, 1851. The first twenty years of his life in this country were spent in Butler county, Neb., which he left in 1880 to take up life in the far west. He first located in Santa Ana, Orange county, and upon the ranch which he purchased there he made his home for nine years, or until removing to the Santa Clara valley, in Ventura

county, and purchasing the ranch of sixty acres, upon which he now lives, and which is planted to lima beans. His marriage in 1876 united him with Mary Stiner, a native of New York state, and the following children were born to them: John, who is married and lives near Hueneme, Ventura county; Bernard, the subject of this sketch ; Stella Carison, Emma, at home; Robert Ingersoll, and one child who died in infancy.

Born in Butier county, Nebraska, January 10, 1880, Bernard Schmitz was next to the oldest in his parents' family, but as he was an infant at the time of his parents' removal to the coast he has no knowledge of any other home than California. His schooling was received in the common schools of the Santa Clara valley, and, after his education was completed, he remained with his father until attaining his majority. Ambitious to engage in ranching on his own be- half, in 1901 he rented the property near Ox- nard, on which he now resides, and in the abund- ance of harvests, which he has gathered, has more than realized his fondest expectations. One hundred and fifty acres are in beets and barley, while the remainder of the ranch, or two hundred and fifty acres, are in lima beans.

The marriage of Bernard Schmitz and Flor- ence Moore was celebrated May 10, 1903, she be- ing a native of Ohio. She is an active worker in the Christian Church of Oxnard, of which she is a member, and with her husband stands high in the social circles of Oxnard. Mr. Schmitz is conceded to be one of the most enterprising citi- zens in this part of Ventura county, and if what he has already accomplished can be taken as a .criterion, future years will find him ranking among the wealthy men of the state.

E. LYNN COVERT. While the term pioneer as generally understood would hardly be appli- cable to Mr. Covert, he was, nevertheless, an early settler in Long Beach, coming here in 1891, at which time its population scarcely reached seven hundred. No one has been a more inter- ested witness of the advancement and progress along all lines of its growth than he, and during the past fifteen years he lias not only been a witness but has been one of the most active work- ers in bringing about present conditions.

Mr. Covert was born in Hopewell, Ind., No- vember 11, 1854, the eldest of the five children born to his parents, George W. and Mary E. (La Grange) Covert, of whom more may be learned by referring to the sketch of the father else- where in this volume. When he was a lad of about six years the family removed from Indiana to Kansas, locating near Carlyle, and in the pub- lic schools of the latter place he gained his first educational training. Some time later,

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about 1873, removal was again made to Indiana, and in the high school of Whiteland he com- pleted his education. He was now of an age when he could be of assistance to his father, who was a practicing physician and dentist, a dual profession which he followed in Whiteland and later in Franklin, that state. After work- ing for a time in the dental office he relinquished this to take up farming and stock raising in that locality, and continued this occupation as long as he remained in the East. As has been previously stated he came to Long Beach in 1891 and two years later established himself in the real estate business in this city. It was no doubt. his favorable report concerning the country, and especially of Long Beach, that induced the father to remove west the following year, and he has made his home in this city ever since. In 1904 Mr. Covert and his father became associated in the subdivision of a tract of land on American avenue between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets. an undertaking which has been exceedingly profitable, for practically all of the lots have been sold at good prices. Besides the residence which he built on Stanwood avenue Mr. Covert also owns residence property in other parts of the city, and is carrying on a very lucrative business as a real estate dealer.

In Whiteland, Ind., Mr. Covert was married to Miss V. Belle Brewer, a native of that State, and to them two children have been born, Ada Edell and Angelo. Mr. Covert's interest in his adopted city has been recognized by his fellow- citizens, who nominated and elected him a mem- ber of the city council, serving to their satisfac- tion and to his own credit for one term. Further proof of his loyalty and devotion to the well-be- ing of Long Beach was demonstrated when he set on foot the organization of the Chamber of Com- merce, composed of business men of the city, who in every community are the bone and sinew which sustain it. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, having joined the order in Greenwood, Ind., and politically he is a Republican. Both Mr. Covert and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Long Beach, and share the love and respect of their many friends and, acquaintances.

AUGUSTE CANTARINI. One of the more extensive ranchmen in Riverside coun- ty is Auguste Cantarini, who lives one-half mile north of Temecula, on his large grain ranch. His birth occurred in 1860, in Ticino, Switzerland, in which country he was edu- cated in the common schools. His parents were Eustorgio and Lucia Cantarini, both na- tives of Switzerland. The death of the father

occurred in 1882, at the age of eighty-six years, and that of the mother in 1904, at the age of eighty-seven. Auguste Cantarini immigrat- ed to the United States when sixteen years of age, locating in Temecula in 1876, and secur- ing employment by the month until 1881, when he became of age and was able to file on a tract of government land. He improved the property thus acquired and gradually add- ed to his holdings, until at the present time his ranch embraces four hundred and fifty-one acres of land.

In 1886 Mr. Cantarini returned to his native land and there married Pia Cantarini, born in Switzerland, and brought her with him to this country. Her parents were Onorato and Sophia Cantarini ; the mother's death occurred in 1887, at forty-five years of age, the father being now sixty-six years old and residing in South America. Mr. and Mrs. Auguste Can- tarini are the parents of eight children, name- ly : Leo Paul, Angelina, Mary, John, Joseph, Elvezi, Daniel, and Serena. Mr. Cantarini is a progressive and enterprising citizen, and by industry, thrift and honesty. earned a suc- cess in his business which he richly deserves.

EDWARD REBER. As a contracting plumb- er Edward Reber conducts a successful business in San Bernardino and his work shows him to be thoroughly familiar with all parts of his trade. Mr. Reber is of German descent, his father, Jolın, having been born in that country. Upon immi- grating to America he settled first in Iowa on a farm, and later went to Stafford county, Kans., where he secured a piece of raw land and ini- proved it until it became a valuable piece of prop- erty. In early days, before the railroads thread- ed their way across the continent, he and a con- rade undertook the hazardous trip of crossing the plains from the farm in Kansas to California by foot, and proved their powers of endurance and courage by accomplishing the task not only once, but twice, for they returned to Kansas in the same way. In 1885 Mr. Reber located in Los Angeles and is now engaged in ranching at Redondo. His wife, formerly Mary Olliman, was also a native of Germany, and they are the parents of ten children, all of whom are living.

It was on October 26, 1870, that Edward Reber was born in Stafford, Kans., where he lived until 1890, when he came to Los Angeles. His education was received through the medium of the public schools and after coming to San Bernardino, in 1892, he began his apprenticeship at the plumber's trade. Subsequently he was em- ployed successively by Wilcox & Rose, Thomas Hadden and George Cooley, and in 1902 lie

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opened a shop of his own on Court street and began to take contracts for general plumbing and heating. His work is all done in a highly satis- factory manner, as may be seen in the Home Telephone building, the St. Charles hotel, and the residences of Mrs. Cochrane, Messrs. James Fleming, Crossman and Glasgow, as well as else- where. He erected the family residence at No. 776 Fourth street, where he resides with his wife, who was formerly Miss Sadie Kenyon, a native of San Bernardino county, where her father is a prominent ranchman. Mr. Reber is a member of the Board of Trade and the Mer- chants' Protective Association, and fraternally affiliates with the Woodmen of the World and Knights of Pythias. He is an enterprising and progressive citizen, an energetic business man and is held in the highest esteem. by all who know him.

MICHAEL HENRY BURKE. One of the most enterprising representatives of the indus- trial interests of Los Angeles county is Michael Henry Burke, of Terminal, who has attained marked distinction as a millwright, having built and equipped many of the more important saw- mills and planing-mills of this part of the state. A man of inventive genius, familiar with every detail concerning the manufacture of lumber, his quick, keen intellect, practical training and wide experience have made him complete master of his trade, and as superintendent of the Southern California Lumber Company's planing mill his knowledge and services are thoroughly appre- ciated by his superiors. A son of the late Al- exander Burke, he was born June 3, 1855, in Jefferson county, N. Y.

On emigrating from Tipperary, Ireland, his native town, to the United States, Alexander Burke lived for a while in Jefferson county, N. Y., being employed as a veterinary surgeon and a farmer. He subsequently removed to Canada, but on the breaking out of the Civil war re- turned to New York to offer his services to the country of his adoption, and as a gunner in Cap- tain Green's company of heavy artillery served until the close of the conflict. Removing then with his family to Excelsior, Wis., he improved a farm, and, in connection with his work as a veterinary surgeon, was engaged in tilling the soil until his death, which occurred at Rice Lake. His wife, whose maiden name was Helen Con- nors, was born at Cape Vincent, N. Y., and died at Rice Lake, Wis. Of their family of twelve children, five sons and three daughters are liv- ing.

Moving to Canada with his parents when a small child, Michael H. Burke lived in Kingston until after the close of the Civil war. Going

then with the family to Wisconsin, he continued his studies in the public schools, being after- wards graduated from Princeton College, in Princeton, Minn. Returning then to Wisconsin, he learned the trade of a mechanical engineer, and subsequently, as head sawyer in different mills, became proficient with every detail of lum- ber manufacturing. An expert mechanic, he in- stalled machinery in many mills of Wisconsin and Minnesota, and was permanently employed by one firm for eight years.

Coming to San Pedro, Cal., in 1901, Mr. Burke built and started the Southwestern Lum- ber Company's mill. Subsequently locating on Terminal Island, le erected his present fine resi- dence, and built for the Southern California Lumber Company the finely equipped planing mill of which he has since had charge. He bought all of the equipments, installed the ma- chinery, which is of the most approved modern construction, on the planer having two new in- ventions of his own, a shifter and a tightener. This mill, one of the finest in southern Califor- nia, has a capacity of two hundred thousand feet a day.

In Richland, Wis., Mr. Burke married Emma Morgan, a native of that place, and they are the parents of six children, namely: William, a practical chemist ; James, Sylvester and Francis, all expert machinists and engaged in the mill with their father; Harvey; and Nellie. Polit- ically Mr. Burke affiliates with the Republican party, and fraternally he belongs to the Forest- ers of America, the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica and to the Modern Brotherhood of America.

HAL W. BALY. Prominent among the ris- ing young business men of San Pedro is Hal W. Baly, bookkeeper for the E. K. Wood Lum- "ber Company. Possessing an active brain, keen and quick at solving mathematical problems, he · is a skilful accountant, and in his present posi- tion is performing the duties devolving upon him with ability and fidelity. Having great faith in the future possibilities of his adopted city, he is warmly interested in everything that tends to promote the welfare of the community in which he resides and in which he is very popular, few men having a larger list of warm friends than he. · A native of Kansas, he was born Septem- ber 21, 1880, in Butler county, a son of Henry Baly, in whose sketch, on another page of this volume, further parental and ancestral history may be found.

Brought by his parents to San Pedro in 1886, Hal W. Baly was here brought up, receiving a good education in the public schools. In 1899 he began his active career as an assistant book- keeper for the Kirchkoff & Cuesner Lumber Com-

Domyes

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

pany, with which he was associated two years. Resigning his position with that firm in 1901, he has since been bookkeeper for the E. K. Wood Lumber Company, and in this capacity has contributed largely towards the advancement of the financial prosperity of his employers. He is a man of sterling integrity, honest and up- right in all of his dealings, and is well worthy of the regard in which he is so universally held.

In San Pedro, Mr. Baly married Frances Mor- ris, who was born, reared and educated in Los Angeles, and their pleasant home, at No. 357 Sixth street, is a center of social activity. Po- litically Mr. Baly is a stanch Republican. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and both he and his wife belong to the Daughters of Rebekah. Relig- iously Mr. and Mrs. Baly are members of the Episcopal Church, and liberal contributors to- wards its support.

PHILIP NOURBOURNE MYERS. No name in the San Jacinto valley, Riverside county, is more enduringly associated with its substantial development than that of Mr. My- ers, general manager of the Hemet Land and Water Company, and one of the large land owners and prosperous citizens of this section. He is a native of the south, born in Covington, Ky., September 16, 1866, the son of Hon. Har- vey Mvers. The latter was a native of Penn- sylvania, born, reared and educated in Great Bend, Susquehanna county, leaving there dur- ing young manhood to take up teaching in Kentucky. Subsequently he began reading law and in due time was admitted to the bar, establishing his office in Covington, Ky. Po- litically a Republican and hence a strong Union man, he was not only a witness but was a participant in the Civil conflict, and assisted in the defense of Cincinnati against the Con- federate raider, Kirby Smith. Some time after- ward he was the choice of his party as their . representative in the state legislature, there as elsewhere serving his constituents faithful- lv and to the best of his ability. At the close of his term he returned once more to Coving- ton and resumed his law practice. having in the meantime associated himself in business with J. W. Stevenson, ex-governor of Ken- tucky. Thus far in his experience Mr. Myers had received many honors and a brilliant ca- reer of many years of usefulness apparently lay before him, but in the midst of it all he was suddenly cut down, being killed by William J. Terrell, who held a grievance against Mr. Myers for his stand upon some legal matter which was detrimental to him. His untimely death occurred in 1874, when he was only for-

ty-six years of age. He was survived only five years by his widow, who before her marriage was Susan Scott, born in Georgetown, Ky., the descendant of an old Virginia family. Four children blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Myers, of whom we mention the following: The eldest, Harvey, is an attorney of consid- erable note in Covington, and for two terms was speaker in the House of Representatives ; besides being prominent at the bar he is also a well-known business man, having a large in- terest in the Independent Telephone Com- pany, is president of the Memphis Telephone Company and is also interested in the Corsi- cana and Dallas (Texas) Independent Tele- phone Companies. The second child in the parental family, Adeline L., became the wife of Rev. William A. Shedd, who died in Per- sia, while there representing the Presbyterian Board of Missions. Susan is the wife of Thomas J. Willison, the family making their home in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The youngest child in his parent's family, Philip N. Myers attended the common and high schools of Covington and after his grad- nation began reading law in the office of Hal- lam & Myers in that city. He gained a val- table insight into legal affairs in his capacity of official reporter, his duties taking him into the United States district court, the courts throughout the northern district of Kentucky and the criminal courts. In addition to this he held other city and county offices which proved of considerable benefit to him from an educational standpoint. He was admitted to the bar in 1890, and the year following he came to California. in San Francisco being admitted to practice at the bar of the supreme court. Notwithstanding his excellent legal training circumstances seemed to lead him in another direction. Going to Bakersfield in 1891 he was offered and accepted the position of private secretary to the general manager of the Kern County Land and Water Company, of which Haggin & Tevis were the owners and proprie- tors. Owing to his wife's ill-health he was compelled to give up his position four years later and seek a climate more suited to her condition, and for this reason located in Los Angeles temporarily. In the mean time he had been offered a position in Hemet, and hither he came in 1896 to become secretary of the Hemet Land and Water Company, an enter- prise which during the past ten years has made rapid strides under his capable manage- ment. The originator of the enterprise which has made a garden spot of the San Jacinto val- ley is Col. E. L. Mayberry, who in 1887 ac- quired the water rights and incorporated the Hemet Land and Water Company. The re-

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serve supply of water is held in Lake Hemet, which drains a watershed of over one hun- dred thousand acres, and from which water is tapped when the supply from the streams be- low run's low. Water is diverted below Lake Hemet at four points, from Strawberry creek, the South fork, North fork and from the San Jacinto river, which during the winter and spring are constantly replenished from the mountains and give an abundant supply with- out drawing upon the reserve, until the irrigat- ing season opens, when a partial supply is of- ten necessary for about three months. In 1890 Colonel Mayberry began the construc- tion of the Hemet dam, which is a solid piece of masonry built across a narrow granite gorge at the lower end of Hemet mountain valley. On top it is two hundred and fifty feet long, and is imbedded into the solid walls of the canon on either side and also be- low bedrock at the bottom. Its base is one hundred feet thick and at present its height is one hundred and twenty-two and a half feet, although the plans now are to raise this to one hundred and fifty or one hundred and sixty feet. The dam has an elevation of forty-four hundred feet above sea level, or twenty-eight hundred feet above the town of Hemet, a con- dition which precludes any fear of water fam- ine on the part of residents of the surround- ing country. The holdings of the Hemet Land and Water Company at one time comprised seven thousand acres, to which was subsequent- ly added three thousand acres by purchase from the Fairview Land and Water Com- pany. About half of this large tract has been sold in ten-acre plats, upon which deciduous and citrus fruits, alfalfa, broom corn or sugar beets are grown with considerable profit. The company is capitalized at $3,000,000, and is under the direct management of Mr. Myers, who resides in Hemet, while the president, W. F. Whittier, makes his headquarters in San Francisco.

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A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume II, Part 90

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company Number of Pages: 1234

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1234